Council Regulation (EC) No 527/2003
of 17 March 2003
authorising the offer and delivery for direct human consumption of certain wines imported from Argentina which may have undergone oenological processes not provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 (repealed)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine(1), and in particular Article 45(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) Article 45(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 offers the possibility of adopting derogations for imported products which have undergone oenological practices not authorised by Community rules.
(2) Wines produced on the territory of Argentina may be subject to acidification with malic acid, an oenological practice not authorised by Community rules.
(3) Negotiations are currently underway between the Community, represented by the Commission, and Argentina on an agreement on trade in wine. These involve in particular the respective oenological processes of the two Parties and the protection of geographical indications.
(4) With a view to ensuring the smooth progress of these negotiations, a derogation allowing the addition of malic acid to wines produced in the territory of Argentina and imported into the Community should be authorised on a transitional basis until the entry into force of the Agreement resulting from the above negotiations, but not later than 30 September 2003.
(5) Since Argentine wine containing malic acid is already present on Community territory, the application of the derogation to these wines should be extended,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2585/2001 (OJ L 345, 29.12.2001, p. 10).